{
  "id": 14106429,
  "title": "Dollar holds near 18-month high as geopolitical risks rise",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/13/dollar-holds-near-18-month-high-as-geopolitical-risks-rise-14106429",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-10-13T02:35:59.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today-freemalays",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/business/2026/10/13/dollar-holds-near-18-month-high-as-geopolitical-risks-rise"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The US dollar index maintained a stable position at 102.56 during early Asian trading on Tuesday, following a slight 0.3% increase on Monday. This resilience was observed despite some US markets being on holiday and rising geopolitical concerns stemming from recent attacks on energy infrastructure in the Middle East and Ukraine. The US dollar index, which gauges the dollar's strength against a basket of six currencies, has been hovering close to its highest levels in 18 months, according to Chris Weston, the head of research at Pepperstone Group Ltd in Melbourne. Factors contributing to the dollar's strength include higher interest rates, robust US growth, and growing demand for defensive investments in US assets. Weston attributes this positive trend to \"higher relative interest rates, stronger US growth and increasing demand for defensive US exposure.\" The spread between French and German bonds widened on Monday, indicating heightened geopolitical risks. The euro held steady at US$1.1159, while the British pound remained constant at US$1.3209. In contrast, the US dollar weakened by 0.1% against the Japanese yen, trading at ¥158.435, following data from the Bank of Japan revealing wholesale prices increased by 6.8% year-on-year in September, slightly below the anticipated 7.6% growth. The Chinese yuan showed signs of strengthening, trading near its strongest levels in four years at ¥6.6950, with offshore trade maintaining this level. Meanwhile, the Australian dollar saw a marginal decline of 0.1% to US$0.6956, unchanged after the Reserve Bank of Australia's September meeting where it unanimously decided to raise rates for the fourth time that year. The committee, however, acknowledged the possibility of further hikes if inflation proves more persistent than expected. New Zealand's dollar slipped 0.1% to US$0.5582, nearing an 18-month low. Cryptocurrencies also witnessed a decline: Bitcoin dropped 2% to US$81,365.56, and Ether fell 3.8% to US$2,422.06. Brent crude futures experienced a 0.9% decrease to US$105.74, partially reversing Monday's 1.8% rise fueled by attacks on energy infrastructure in Saudi Arabia and Ukraine.",
  "summary": "Rising energy costs and higher US Treasury yields have recently supported the US dollar against its major peers.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Investing.com",
        "title": "Dollar holds near 18-month high as geopolitical risks rise",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/13/dollar-holds-near-18-month-high-as-geopolitical-risks-rise",
        "published": "2026-10-13T01:48:23.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Dollar holds near 18-month high as geopolitical risks rise",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/13/dollar-holds-near-18-month-high-as-geopolitical-risks-rise-14105780",
        "published": "2026-10-13T02:35:59.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Business Recorder",
        "title": "Dollar holds near 18-month high as geopolitical risks rise",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/13/dollar-holds-near-18-month-high-as-geopolitical-risks-rise-14102563",
        "published": "2026-10-13T02:56:38.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}